Morning links: Speed's back for Washington

Dave Boling of The News Tribune spent some time with Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington on Monday, who says he feels more explosive, now two years removed from a gruesome leg injury.

The Florida native also became a father for the third time during the lockout. He has three boys; he and his wife Charity’s latest is six-week-old Nolen.Boling:

“Washington has been one of the eye-catching players early in training camp – shifty in tight quarters, with breakaway speed once he slips past the line.

“The only surprise there is that he looks even quicker than last season, when he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, and almost had a punt return score, too, but he was somewhat embarrassingly tripped up by the punter at the 1-yard line.

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“His speed, he says, is enhanced by having lost a few pounds (pregnancy weight, maybe?), and by the natural confidence of now being another year removed from the gruesome compound leg fracture that ended his ’09 season with the New York Jets.”

Still no word on Oakland Raiders free agent Zach Miller and whether he’ll sign with Seattle. Miller was in town on Monday and had dinner with Seahawks’ officials. Bill Williamson of ESPN reports that the Raiders are hopeful that Miller will return, and created some cap space by re-signing linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to a five-year, $48 million deal. Wimbley initially had been Oakland’s franchise player.

Williamson also confirms that Lofa Tatupu visited Oakland, and would play weakside linebacker if the team signs him, leaving Rolondo McClain to man the middle.

According to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com the Seahawks signed defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson to a one year, $1.5 million deal. Wilkerson visited the team earlier in free agency, and played for defensive line coach Todd Wash in Tampa Bay.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Seahawks are one of 10 teams that have more than $20 million in cap space. The report has Seattle at more than $21.2 million under the cap.

Christian Caple of Seattlepi.com talks to Jameson Konz about his position change from tight end to defensive end, which the Kent State product says is only temporary.

Check out this music video below of Seahawks’ running back Justin Forsett, who wrote the song L.O.V.E for his wife Angela Forsett to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary. The video includes appearances by teammates Deon Butler, Cameron Morrah and Roy Lewis, who apparently thinks this is an audition for a Jodeci video.

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